Tours/Sydney/Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee
Viator · group up to 120 pax

Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee

4.2(235)Sydney1 hour
VIATOR4.3(168)TRIPADVISOR4.1(67)

Description

See magnificent humpback and southern right whales at play on a Sydney whale-watching cruise. From Circular Quay, this open-water cruise will take you through the entrance of Sydney Harbour and into the open Pacific in search of whales. The open-air viewing decks on board the catamaran offer unobstructed views and the best opportunities for spotting and watching the whales. Getting up close to these gentle giants of the sea is an awe-inspiring experience that you don’t want to miss. With record numbers of whales due to pass along Sydney's coastline this migration season, there are sure to be plenty of sightings and great photo opportunities! This activity is seasonal, operating from mid-May to early-Novemeber each year.

Tour Options

Whale Watching - AM
  • Departs 9:30am
Whale Watching - PM
  • Departs 1:30pm

Highlights

2.5 Hour Whale Watching Cruise
Live commentary on board

What's included

Included
2.5 Hour Whale Watching Cruise
Live commentary on board
Not included
Food and drinks (available to purchase)

Traveller Ratings

4.2
235 reviews
5
146
4
41
3
19
2
13
1
16

Important Information

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please dress appropriately and wear warm clothing. It will often feel cooler at sea
  • If you are susceptible to travel sickness, please bring the relevant medication
  • Whale Guarantee: If a whale is not sighted during your cruise, you'll be given the opportunity to cruise again for free within the same season
  • Reconfirmation Hotline - Call +61-2-8062 3623 from 7.15am on the day of your cruise to confirm the cruise is going ahead. Cruises may be cancelled subject to weather conditions.
  • Whale Watching Child Policy: Infants 0-3 years are not recommended. Child fare available for Children 4-15 years. Minimum of one supervising adult for every four children is required.
  • IMPORTANT: 20Jul-28Aug2026 the cruise departs Commissioner's Steps (not wheelchair accessible), due to NSW Maritime wharf upgrades.
  • Not recommended for travelers 3 years and younger

Reviews(235)

K
KIT476
August 3, 2026
Fantastic whale watching

This is a fantastic trip. We were lucky enough to see lots of whale sightings. The Guide was really knowledgeable and the boat very comfortable, not over crowded and everyone got to see the wonderful whales. Highly recommend this company and trip.

M
MrsRazia_K
August 3, 2026
Whale watching

The captain cook crew were very knowledgeable and friendly. The boat was fantastic. We waited for so much time to watch the whales and even went to different locations to spot them. A must do activity!

A
AdrianW1
July 26, 2026
Sea conditions too rough although we did see some whales

Our initial booking was cancelled due to weather conditions, but the rescheduled trip wasn't really any better and I think it was questionable if that should have gone ahead. If a good percentage of the passengers were sick, the conditions were probably too rough? We did see some whales from a distance with a couple of tail splashes, although when the sea is so rough they are difficult to see due to the white-top on the waves. The audio was also broken so it was very hard to hear what the guide was saying, even when they came up to the ourside deck in the rain. While I understand trips of this nature are very much dependant on external factors, we've been on better whale watching tours.

C
Caterina_S
July 23, 2026
In cerca di Balene ….

Rug up in winter! We are visiting from Italy and we were told to do a whale sightseeing trip!! Loved it!

K
kayom509
July 14, 2026
It was far.

I did witness a number of them, but they were quite far away. However, each time they moved the ferry towards the whale, and the organizers made a lot of effort.

P
PamH84
July 14, 2026
Poor visibility given crowd volume

In comparison to previous whale watching experiences this one did not hold up. There was plenty of whale activity but the visibility was poor. Other companies will try move the boat around so that people on all sides have an opportunity to see and experience. On a boat where everyone sitting downstairs moved upstairs, everyone stood up and the boat faced the whales head on I have a camera reel of a lot of heads but not much in the way of whales.

E
edmund_c
July 13, 2026
was a little disappointed...

was a little disappointed that even though we saw whales (or rather part of it), it was viewed from over a 100 meters or more away. Felt like I needed a binoculars.

A
Annelise_D
July 12, 2026
Great experience! We saw...

Great experience! We saw five whales. Very dependent on the day though, but a fabulous trip. Only thing is that they said there would be food and beverages to purchase on board, and wasn’t. Make sure to bring a water bottle and snacks for your trip just in case.

A
andrewdT5228HN
July 8, 2026
Mistimed cancellation.

Booked a journey to the experience. Advice was only open for cancellations within 1 hr of the book. While we travelled for up to 2hrs to have the experience. We had news the booking was cancelled due to weather and although we were on time couldn’t go because of weather cancellations. We regret the cancellation and refund request due to our travel plans were a timed event to no alternative booking availability.

R
Rayna S
July 7, 2026
Great tour!

Great whale watching tour! Saw some dolphins swimming along the boat and lots of whales! We were not lucky enough to see a whale breach, but we saw a lot of whales just at the surface, swimming, their fins, lots of them using their blow holes, and lots of their tails. The crew did a great job driving around to find the whales and even trying to get one to breach closer to us. Also, the views of Sydney from the boat are wonderful! Great boat staff.

Operator response

Hi Rayna, Thank you for your wonderful 5-star review. We’re delighted to hear you had an amazing whale watching experience and were able to see so many whales during your cruise. It’s especially rewarding to know that our onboard commentator helped enhance your experience with informative and engaging insights about these magnificent creatures. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to the team. We take great pride in delivering exceptional service and are pleased to know that we have upheld our standards. Your feedback is truly appreciated, and we hope to welcome you back on board again soon. Best regards, Captain Cook Cruises

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